PHOENIX — For kids growing up on the Navajo Nation, there is no bigger sport than basketball. When they get into high school, the passion for the sport goes on full display.
Fans travel for hours to watch their teams compete, packing high schools across Arizona. The atmosphere is so intense these games have even earned their own title: "Rez ball."
And Rez ball was on full display in the 3A girls basketball playoffs on Friday night as the No. 13 Chinle Wildcats took on the No. 4 Valley Christian Trojans in the second round.
The game, which was supposed to be played at Valley Christian in Chandler, was moved to Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee due to the sheer number of fans expected, and even in the larger gym, it was standing room only, giving the playoff matchup the feel of a state championship.
"Chinle will always support Chinle so it’s very entertaining," Kayliyah Begay said.
Fans at the game were not surprised by the turnout, with Chinle fans outnumbering those from Valley Christian despite having to drive five hours to make it to the game.
“It’s the rez so it’s to be expected,” Charmaine King said.
The turnout was described as "dedication," with some people even saying it made it seem like the entire town of Chinle came out.
But for people from Chinle, this support is not a surprise.
"(It's) an addiction to watch the game," Moe Draper, who lives in Chinle, said.
Draper, who hasn't missed a Chinle game since 1995, hitch-hiked down to Phoenix on Thursday to see his team play. He left at seven a.m. on Friday and didn't get to Phoenix until two p.m.
"Just the excitement of the crowd, I just love the environment," Draper said.
That environment has become legendary. It's even being chronicled in a new Netflix series, produced by LeBron James, that will be released later this year.
And on Friday night, that legend became reality once again with Chinle fans so numerous, they even sat on the Valley Christian side of the stands. Draper said he was just happy they moved the game from Valley Christian.
"I'm kind of glad they upgraded the gym," Draper said. "The other gym was kind of small."
The magic of Rez ball will continue for Chinle into the state semifinals after they upset Valley Christian, 36-31.
Draper told 12News he'll head back up to Chinle on Saturday and that the Wildcats win made the trip worth it.
Chinle will play No. 5 Snowflake in the 3A quarterfinals on Monday at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. If the Wildcats win that game, they will advance to the semifinals, which will be played on Feb. 23 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. The 3A state championship will be on Feb. 24 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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